Swearinger keeps complaining: Washington defense unprepared
Redskins’ Swearinger says: ‘We’re just not prepared’
In what can only be interpreted as a debilitating slap at Jay Gruden and his assistant coaches, Washington Redskins safety D.J. Swearinger said after his team’s blowout loss to the LA Chargers: “I don’t think we prepared well, with some of the questions that’s been asked (by players) before the game. ‘Are you doing this right here? Are you doing this right there?’ We’re just not prepared. . . . I’ve been saying all year, we’ve got to practice better.” This is not the first time he’s complained of coaches not preparing the defense. When Drew Brees completed 11 passes in a row to complete a come-from-behind victory over the ‘Skins, Swearinger said his team was not prepared for the 2-minute drill. Swearinger is one of Washington’s most respected veteran leaders, and his words could lead to the departure of Gruden.
Dear D.J.: As an internet journalist I love to see the dirty laundry. But I hope you’re not planning on a lengthy career in Washington.
Gannon says the Raiders ‘never got off the bus’
Some of the harshest – and most telling — commentary on the Oakland Raiders came from their former QB, Rich Gannon, after the team’s listless 26-15 defeat to Kansas City. In his weekly appearance on NFL Monday QB (CBSSports), Gannon cited “an embarrassing performance by the Raiders. They never got off the bus. That game was over at halftime. Tell me how you can be unprepared for what was essentially a playoff game. Derek Carr was terrible. They didn’t run the football. They weren’t good on defense. They’ve got problems in Oakland. This has been festering for a while. They’ve been an inconsistent team all season.”
Between the Lines: Gannon is well connected to the team on which he played. He’s suggesting that Jack Del Rio may be in his final weeks as head coach of the Raiders.
Cam Newton ‘dresses like a doorman at the Grand Budapest Hotel’
Rich Gannon, former NFL quarterback, recalled one of Bill Parcells’ commandments about quarterbacking: “Never be a clown.” But in Gannon’s view, the Carolina Panthers’ quarterback, Cam Newton, played the wrong role when he attended Sunday’s postgame press conference wearing a fez. “Every week it’s something different with this guy,” Gannon said on NFL Monday QB. “It’s like a clown show. I don’t get it. He looked like the doorman at the Grand Budapest Hotel.”
Roethlisberger doesn’t want his son to play football
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has been one of the NFL players most supportive of the concussion protocol and efforts to make the league safer for players. But he sees need for much improvement. On his radio show he said, “It’s a scary, violent game we play. I hope my son plays golf.”
Japanese star Ohtani asks Angels fans to give him a nickname
Shohei Ohtani, the 20-year-old pitcher/outfielder known as “the Japanese Babe Ruth,” introduced himself to American media after agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani was pursued by several MLB franchises that are far more successful than the Angels. But he was excited by the potential of playing on the same team as America’s greatest young ballplayer, Mike Trout, an outfielder. Ohtani, speaking through an interpreter, had one request of Angels fans: he wants them to give him a nickname.
Dear Shohei: In America, it may be best not to ask for a nickname. Especially before you’ve had a chance to earn one. Otherwise you could acquire a nickname you don’t like. Such as The Big Ego.